[goosepimple]

Does this sound familiar to any of you border collie owners - we are new to BCs.  We have a bitch almost 18months (speyed) who has just suddenly (I mean in the last 2 weeks) changed hugely.  It is like she has been transformed from daft puppy to being very obedient and wanting to work and not to play ball / frizbee etc.  She has gone rounding up silly to the point where it is all she wants to do, it seems its almost that she's telling me that there is no point in running after balls etc, just give me sheep / ducks etc.  She has become really well behaved with the sheep and goats (and even the hens) that I don't have to bother with her lead any more.  The only reason I write this is that the change hasn't happened gradually, it has been sudden and noticeable.  I can see question marks over the sheeps heads too!?  Is there a point at which it suddenly dawns on them what there reason to be is?   I'm not sure if her talents will be wasted with us as we only have a few sheep.

[robert waddell]

is the roof of her mouth black

[goosepimple]

sorry robert, if that was a joke then I'm a bit thick sorry, or did you mean something?

[doganjo]

I think there is a superstitious that if inside a collie's mouth is black then it's a born worker - no foundation in it of course!

With my breed it is like a light being switched on when they suddenly realise what it's all about when a hunt then a point then a retrieve when the game is shot all comes together

[robert waddell]

the ones with a black roof in there mouth are more inclined to work or be trained for whatever pourpose 

[doganjo]

the ones with a black roof in there mouth are more inclined to work or be trained for whatever pourpose 

Pure surmising not fact.  For same reason some folk won't take a chocolate lab fro working - again only based on hearsay.  I know of 2 chocolate labs doing an excellent job in the field, and I'm sure there are a lot of working collies with a pink mouth

[robert waddell]

equaly as many with black roofs

[ellisr]

Now that makes sense Grandpa used to look in the collie pups mouths and then say if it was a good un or not. I just thought his marbles had rolled off down the hill into Hexham

[Sylvia]

She's grown up, that's all. Make sure you give her plenty to do, the Devil makes work for idle collies

[jaykay]

Yes, she's just grown up.

The Devil I think has a special direct line to idle collies! Doesn't have to be herding work, though obviously that's what she'll love but she does need to be kept active and busy or she'll entertain herself 

[goosepimple]

ok, so we've just all been trying to get her to open her mouth and she's wondering what on earth we're doing She's got plenty of livestock to play with and OH is setting up sticks for that wiggly waggly agility thing this weekend.  And yes doganjo, that's it - a light being switched on. Finally clicked and what a difference!

[jaykay]

I think the agility thing is a great idea - you could make an excellent 'kids and dog' assault course 

[colliewoman]

Yup, she clicked as we call it. I remember the day Red Dog turned round and looked at me with a look that could only be 'Oh NOW I get it! Why didn't you say so in the first place?'
 

[goosepimple]

Yup, she's been herding the ducks beautifully again, seems to be leaving our jumpy rare breed sheep alone just now and she's trying to do the pygmies but they are tough nuts, brutal and take no prisoners, so she's avoiding them at the minute.  Doing great though, will post about the agility - may get the ducks involved in that too! (there must be an act in there somewhere )

[Moleskins]

[/quote]For same reason some folk won't take a chocolate lab fro working - again only based on hearsay.  I know of 2 chocolate labs doing an excellent job in the field,
[/quote]
I'm told choc labs were popular and breeders bred anything just to get pups to sell. Hence a load of thick dogs who were no good for work, hence the bad name. Now bred from better stock so not such a problem.